Hair curling device

ABSTRACT

A hair curling device including a handle providing a source of heated air to a perforate cylindrical fixed jaw attached thereto and having a movable jaw pivotally mounted relative to the fixed jaw, with the pivoting action being effected by a lever which extends generally lengthwise of the handle and which is located on the opposite side of the handle from the movable jaw, a linkage between the lever and the movable jaw extending through a mounting connector which mounts the fixed jaw on the handle and includes a spring for biasing the movable jaw into clamped relationship with the fixed jaw. A hair curling device of the foregoing type in which the jaws, lever, and linkage are mounted on a mounting connector which may be selectively mounted and demounted from a handle.

United States Patent Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene AssistantExaminer-Gregory E. McNeill Attorney-Kenneth R. Sommer and Robert C.Weber Arnesen [451 Oct. 17, 1972 [54] HAIR CURLING DEVICE [s71 merrier Ahair curling device including a handle providing a source of heated airto a perforate cylindrical fixed jaw attached thereto and having amovable jaw pivotally mounted relative to the fixed jaw, with thepivoting action being effected by a leverwhich extends generallylengthwise ot the handle and which is located on the opposite side ofthe handle from the movable jaw, a linkage between the lever and themovable jaw extending through a mounting connector which mounts thefixed jaw on the handle and includes a spring for biasing the movablejaw into clamped relationship with the fixed jaw. A hair curling deviceof the foregoing type in which the jaws, lever, and linkage are mountedon a mounting connector which may be selectively mounted and demountedfrom a handle.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures HAIR CURLING DEVICE The present inventionrelates to an improved hair curling device for curling hair in animproved manner.

In the past there have been various types of hair curling devices whichsupplied heated air to curling jaws extending from a handle and includedstructure for selectively opening and closing hair engaging jaws.Certain of these devices were deficient in that they had the operatinglever and the movable jaw on the same side of the device and thereforethey could not overcome the problem of leaving undesirable.fishhooks inthe hair as a result of the curling. Fishhooks are hair ends which curlupwardly and outwardly away from the head in the shape of a fishhook.Other devices which did have the operating lever and the movable jaw onopposite sides of the device required the operator of the device toexert proper pressure on the lever, which was extremely difficultconsidering that at the time of applying the pressure the operator alsohad to manipulate the curling device, that is, pull it longitudinallyalong the hair and simultaneously twist it. It is with overcoming theforegoing deficiencies of the prior art that the present invention isconcerned.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention toprovide an improved hair curling device which is especially adapted foreasy manipulation by an operator in such a manner as to avoidundesirable distortion of hair into fishhooks. It is a related object ofthe present invention to provide an improved curling device in which thepressure of the jaws on the hair being curled is automaticallydetermined by the construction of the haircurling device itself, therebyobviating the necessity for the person operating the device to have theprerequisite skill which would otherwise be required.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved haircurling device having an extremely simple, efficient and effectivelinkage which will permit highly efficient usage of the hair curler.

A further object of the present invention is to providean'improved haircurling attachment which can be mounted on a preexisting blower handleto provide the various improved types of action enumerated above. Otherobjects and attendant advantages of the present invention will readilybe perceived hereafter.

The improved hair curling device of the present invention includes ahandle for providing a source of heated or cool air and includes meansfor mounting an improved attachment thereon which includes a mountingconnector for mounting on the handle and having a fixed jaw membersecured thereto and a movable jaw pivotally mounted on the mountingconnector, with a lever mounted on the mounting connector and located onthe opposite side of the handle from the movable jaw, and a springbiased linkage for urging the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw with apredetermined amount of pressure.

The various aspects of the present invention will be more fullyunderstood when the following portions of the specification are read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the improved hair curler of thepresent invention including a handle and a curling attachment mountedthereon;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially'alongline 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially alongline 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially alongline 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the means forattaching the fixed jaw to the handle and taken substantially along line6-6 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is a view partially in cross section taken substantially alongline 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing how the hair curler of the presentinvention operates.

The improved hair curling device 10 of the present invention includes ahandle 11 which is hollow and houses an electric motor 12 connected tolead-in wire 13, motor 12 driving blower 13 which causesair to be takenin through openings 14 and forced across heating element 15 and thencethrough hollow mounting connector 16 and into hollow fixed jaw member 17the open rear end of which is enlarged to form such mounting connector,and the front end 18 of which is closed or stopped as by a plug to causethe heated air to flow outwardly through perforations 19 to thus supplyheated air to the hair being curled. An electric switch 19 controls theflow of current to heating element 15 and a second electrical switch 20controls the flow of electric current to motor 12. Thus, the device canoperate selectively with heated air or cool air as desired. 6

A perforated upper movable jaw member 21 has its rear end pivotallymounted on the rear end of fixed jaw member 17, with its front end freeand its inner surface 22 complementary to and normally biased intomating engagement with the outer surface of fixed jaw member 17, and isadapted to be moved to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 1 when therear end of elongated lever 23 is moved from the solid line position toits dotted line position. More specifically, the linkage associated withmounting connector 16 and connecting the front end of lever 23 with therear end of movable jaw 21 includes an outstanding upper front trunnionconnection 24 consisting of upstanding arms 25 attached to connector 16and mounting a rivet or pin 26 therebetween on which the intermediateportion of lever arm 27 pivots, the lower front end of which is securedto the rear end of movable jaw 21. The opposite or rear end of lever arm27 is spread apart into portions 28 which mount rivet 29 which alsopivotally extends through and forms a connection with the upper end 30of transverse link 31 proximate pin 26, and which link in turn extendsloosely through aligned apertures 32 and 33 in mounting connector 16.The lower end of link 31 is formed into a reduced portion 34 which ispivoted on rivet 35 which extends between forms a connection with spacedarms 36 formed at the front end of lever 23. Lever 23 in turn has anintermediate portion which is located adjacent but rearwardly of itsfront end and is pivotally mounted on an outstanding lower rear trunnionconnection 37 proximate rivet 35 and comprising rivet or pin 39 mountedon spaced arms 38 attached to mounting connector 16.

Movable jaw 21 normally is biased toward fixed jaw 17 to the normallyclosed solid line position shown in FIG. 1 by resilient means in theform of a helical spring 40 located within mounting connector 16surrounding link 31 and having its lower end 41 bearing against theinside of mounting connector 16 and its upper end effectively secured tothe link by bearing against pin 42 which extends through link 31, thusnormally biasing the rear end of lever 23 away from the front end of thelever toward the rear end of fixed jaw 17, as also shown in FIG. 1. Itwill be appreciated that by the proper selection of spring strength theamount of pressure applied by jaws 21 and 17 to the hair clampedtherebetween is realized when lever 23 is released, and thus thisdiscretion is not left to the person using the device.

Mounting connector 16 is used to selectively mount the entire unitconsisting of the jaw members 17 and 21 and lever 23 and all the linkagetherebetween onto the end 43 (FIG. 6) of handle 1 1. In this respect asleeve 44 is secured to the inside of hollow handle 43 and it forms anannular ring 45 at the outer end thereof. The ring 45 has an annulardepression 46' in its outer surface. Mounting connector 16 has its endformed into flexible fingers 46 which are circumferentially spaced aboutthe mounting connector, these fingers being resilient so that they canbe slipped over ring 45 and their resilience will cause their lowerrounded portions 47 to fit in complementary mating detent-holdingrelationship with depression 46 in ring 45. Locking sleeve 48 is movedfrom the left of FIG. 6 to its position shown in FIG. 6 wherein detentportion 49 thereof presses into complementary mating depressions in therear of fingers 46 to thus hold the assembly mounted on the end ofhandle 11. It will readily be appreciated that the mounting connectordoes permit the jaws to be selectively removed and replaced as requiredfor proper operation and that this also permits jaws of different sizesto be used on the same handle. It is to be especially noted that all ofthe structure exclusive of handle 11 is mounted on mounting connector16, which permits the improved attachment of the present invention to besupplied as a unit which can be easily mounted and demounted fromexisting handles.

The manner in which the curling device of the present invention is to beused can best be seen from FIG. 8. The parts of the curling device areoriented as shown in FIG. 1, namely, with movable jaw 21 and lever 23being located on opposite sides of handle 23. By virtue of thisarrangement it can be seen that the operator will grasp the top portionof handle 11 in the palm of his hand and his fingers will encircle lever23 while his thumb rests on the handle. if desired, his index finger mayextend through opening 51. Thereafter, the operator depresses handle 23to its dotted line position to cause movable jaw to move to its opendotted line position to receive hair between the movable jaw 21 andfixedjaw 17. At this time the fan or heat or both are turned on toprovide air which is forced through openings 19 onto the hair and thisheated air can also pass through openings 51 in the movable jaw. Theoperator causes the jaws to clamp the hair which is closest to the head,and he pulls the curling device downwardly toward the free ends of thehair in the direction of arrow 50. When he comes to the end portions ofthe hair, he will impart a rotary motion to the jaws 17 and 21 in thedirection of arrow 52 by twisting his wrist. This will provide propercurling to the ends of the hair, that is, it will cause these ends to becurled under in order to avoid what is known in the beauty trade asfishhooks, that is, hair which is curved outwardly and upwardly. It willbe appreciated that since spring 40 applies the proper curling pressureto the hair between jaws l7 and 21, the operator need not be concernedwith this aspect of the curling, and can devote his attention'to theother above-described manipulations.

It now is seen how the invention accomplishes its various objectives,and while the invention has been described and illustrated herein withreference to a single preferred embodiment, it is to be understood thatvarious changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilledin the art, without departing from the inventive concept, the scope ofwhich is to be determined from the appended claims. For example, thehandle may be provided with but a single on and off switch whichcontrols both the heat and air flow. In addition, the mounting connector16 may be provided with a male member fitting within a female member ofhandle 11 instead of the reverse arrangement shown. 1

What is claimed is:

1. A hair curling device wherein the improvement comprises: a fixed jawhaving front and rear ends; a movable jaw having front and rear ends,with its front end free and its rear end pivotally mounted relative to asaid rear end of said fixed jaw on one side thereof; an elongated leverhaving front and rear ends and an intermediate portion located adjacentbut rearwardly of its front end, with said intermediate portionpivotally mounted relative to said rear end of said fixed jaw on theside thereof opposite said one side; linkage means connecting said frontend of said lever with said rear end of said movable jaw to pivot saidmovable jaw toward and away from said fixed jaw upon actuation of saidlever; and resilient means operatively associated with said linkagemeans for biasing said movable jaw and said front end of said levertoward said fixed jaw.

2. The hair curling device of claim 1 wherein said fixed jaw is hollowand perforated, with its rear end open and enlarged to form a hollowmounting connector for selective attachment to a handle, and its frontend closed; and said movable jaw is perforated, with its inner surfacecomplementary to and normally biased into mating engagement with theouter surface of said fixed jaw.

3. The hair curling device of claim 1 wherein said linkage means includea first pivotal connection effectively located between said rear end ofsaid fixed jaw and said rear end of said movable jaw on said one side, asecond pivotal connection effectively located between said rear end ofsaid fixed jaw and said intermediate portion of said lever on saidopposite side, an elongated link extending transversely of said rear endof said fixed jaw, a third pivotal connection between said rear end ofsaid movable jaw and one end of said link proximate said first pivotalconnection, and a fourth pivotal connection between said front end ofsaid lever and the opposite end of said link proximate said secondpivotal connection.

4. The hair curling device of claim 3 wherein said linkage means includean arm having a front end attached to said rear end of said movable jaw,a rear end forming said third pivotal connection with said one end ofsaid link, and an intermediate portion, an outstanding front trunnionattached to said rear end of said fixed jaw on said one side and formingsaid first pivotal connection with said intermediate portion of saidarm, and an outstanding rear trunnion attached to said rear end of saidfixed jaw on said opposite side and forming said second pivotalconnection with said intermediate portion of said lever.

5. The hair curling device of claim 1 wherein said resilient meansinclude a helical spring having one end effectively secured to saidlinkage means and its opposite end effectively bearing against said rearend of said fixed jaw.

6. The hair curling device of claim 1 wherein said fixed jaw is hollowand perforated, with its rear end open and enlarged to form a hollowmounting connection for selective attachment to a handle, and its frontend closed; said movable jaw is perforated, with its inner surfacecomplementary to and normally biased into mating engagement with theouter surface of said fixed jaw; and said linkage means include a firstpivotal connection between said mounting connector and said rear end ofsaid movable jaw on said one side, a second pivotal connection betweensaid mounting connector and said intermediate portion of said lever onsaid opposite side, an elongated link extending transversely of saidmounting connector, a third pivotal connection between said rear end ofsaid movable jaw and one end of said link proximate said first pivotalconnection, and a fourth pivotal connection between said front end ofsaid lever and the opposite end of said link proximate said secondpivotal connection.

7. The hair curling device of claim 1 wherein said fixed jaw is hollowand perforated, with its rear end open and enlarged to form a hollowmounting connector for selective attachment to a handle and its frontend closed; said movable jaw is perforated, with its inner surfacecomplementary to and normally biased into mating engagement with theouter surface of said fixed jaw; and said resilient means include ahelical spring having one end effectively secured to said linkage meansand its opposite end effectively biasing against said mountingconnector.

8. The hair curling device of claim 1 wherein said linkage means includea first pivotal connection effectively located between said rear end ofsaid fixed jaw and said rear end of said movable jaw on said one side, asecond pivotal connection effectively located between said rear end ofsaid fixed jaw and said intermediate portion of said lever on saidopposite side, an elongated link extending transversely of said rear endof said fixed jaw, a third pivotal connection between said rear end ofsaid movable jaw and one end of said link proximate said first pivotalconnection, and a fourth pivotal connection between said front end ofsaid lever and the opposite end of said link proximate said secondpivotal connection; and said resilient means include a helical springsurrounding said link and having one end effectively secured to saidlink and its opposite end effectively bearing against said rear end ofsaid fixed jaw.

9. The hair curling device of claim 1 wherein said fixed jaw is hollowand perforated with its rear end open and enlarged to form a hollowmountinag connector for selective attachment to a handle an its frontend closed, said movable jaw is perforated, with its inner surfacecomplementary to and normally biased into mating engagement with theouter surface of said fixed jaw; said linkage means include a firstpivotal connection between said mounting connector and said rear end ofsaid movable jaw on said one side, a second pivotal connection betweensaid mounting connector and said intermediate portion of said lever onsaid opposite side, an elongated link extending transversely throughsaid mounting connector, a third pivotal connection between said rearend of said movable jaw and one end of said link proximate said firstpivotal connection, and a fourth pivotal connection between said frontend of said lever and the opposite end of said link proximate saidsecond pivotal connection; and said resilient means include a helicalspring'surrounding said link within said mounting connector and havingone end effectively secured to said link and its opposite endeffectively bearing against said mounting connector.

10. The hair curling device of claim 9 wherein said linkage meansinclude an arm having a front end attached to said rear end of saidmovable jaw, a rear end forming said third pivotal connection with saidone end of said link, and an intermediate portion, an outstanding fronttrunnion attached to said mounting connector on said one side andforming said first pivotal connection with said intermediate portion ofsaid arm, and an outstanding rear trunnion attached to said mountingconnector on said opposite side and forming said second pivotalconnection with said intermediate portion of said lever.

1. A hair curling device wherein the improvement comprises: a fixed jawhaving front and rear ends; a movable jaw having front and rear ends,with its front end free and its rear end pivotally mounted relative tosaid rear end of said fixed jaw on one side thereof; an elongated leverhaving front and rear ends and an intermediate portion located adjacentbut rearwardly of its front end, with said intermediate portionpivotally mounted relative to said rear end of said fixed jaw on theside thereof opposite said one side; linkage means connecting said frontend of said lever with said rear end of said movable jaw to pivot saidmovable jaw toward and away from said fixed jaw upon actuation of saidlever; and resilient means operatively associated with said linkagemeans for biasing said movable jaw and said front end of said levertoward said fixed jaw.
 2. The hair curling device of claim 1 whereinsaid fixed jaw is hollow and perforated, with its rear end open andenlarged to form a hollow mounting connector for selective attachment toa handle, and its front end closed; and said movable jaw is perforated,with its inner surface complementary to and normally biased into matingengagement with the outer surface of said fixed jaw.
 3. The hair curlingdevice of claim 1 wherein said linkage means include a first pivotalconnection effectively located between said rear end of said fixed jawand said rear end of said movable jaw on said one side, a second pivotalconnection effectively located between said rear end of said fixed jawand said intermediate portion of said lever on said opposite side, anelongated link extending transversely of said rear end of said fixedjaw, a third pivotal connection between said rear end of said movablejaw and one end of said link proximate said first pivotal connection,and a fourth pivotal connection between said front end of said lever andthe opposite end of said link proximate said second pivotal connection.4. The hair curling device of claim 3 wherein said linkage means includean arm having a front end attached to said rear end of said movable jaw,a rear end forming said third pivotal connection with said one end ofsaid link, and an intermediate portion, an outstanding front trunnionattached to said rear end of said fixed jaw on said one side and formingsaid first pivotal connection with said intermediate portion of saidarm, and an outstanding rear trunnion attached to said rear end of saidfixed jaw on said opposite side and forming said second pivotalconnection with said intermediate portion of said lever.
 5. The haircurling device of claim 1 wherein said resilient means include a helicalspring having one end effectively secured to said linkage means and itsopposite end effectively bearing against said rear end of said fixedjaw.
 6. The hair curling device of claim 1 wherein said fixed jaw ishollow and perforated, with its rear end open and enlarged to form ahollow mounting connection for selective attachment to a handle, and itsfront end closed; said movable jaw is perforated, with its inner surfacecomplementary to and normally biased into mating engagement with theouter surface of said fixed jaw; and said linkage means include a firstpivotal connection between said mounting connector and said rear end ofsaid movable jaw on said one side, a second pivotal connEction betweensaid mounting connector and said intermediate portion of said lever onsaid opposite side, an elongated link extending transversely of saidmounting connector, a third pivotal connection between said rear end ofsaid movable jaw and one end of said link proximate said first pivotalconnection, and a fourth pivotal connection between said front end ofsaid lever and the opposite end of said link proximate said secondpivotal connection.
 7. The hair curling device of claim 1 wherein saidfixed jaw is hollow and perforated, with its rear end open and enlargedto form a hollow mounting connector for selective attachment to a handleand its front end closed; said movable jaw is perforated, with its innersurface complementary to and normally biased into mating engagement withthe outer surface of said fixed jaw; and said resilient means include ahelical spring having one end effectively secured to said linkage meansand its opposite end effectively biasing against said mountingconnector.
 8. The hair curling device of claim 1 wherein said linkagemeans include a first pivotal connection effectively located betweensaid rear end of said fixed jaw and said rear end of said movable jaw onsaid one side, a second pivotal connection effectively located betweensaid rear end of said fixed jaw and said intermediate portion of saidlever on said opposite side, an elongated link extending transversely ofsaid rear end of said fixed jaw, a third pivotal connection between saidrear end of said movable jaw and one end of said link proximate saidfirst pivotal connection, and a fourth pivotal connection between saidfront end of said lever and the opposite end of said link proximate saidsecond pivotal connection; and said resilient means include a helicalspring surrounding said link and having one end effectively secured tosaid link and its opposite end effectively bearing against said rear endof said fixed jaw.
 9. The hair curling device of claim 1 wherein saidfixed jaw is hollow and perforated, with its rear end open and enlargedto form a hollow mounting connector for selective attachment to a handleand its front end closed, said movable jaw is perforated, with its innersurface complementary to and normally biased into mating engagement withthe outer surface of said fixed jaw; said linkage means include a firstpivotal connection between said mounting connector and said rear end ofsaid movable jaw on said one side, a second pivotal connection betweensaid mounting connector and said intermediate portion of said lever onsaid opposite side, an elongated link extending transversely throughsaid mounting connector, a third pivotal connection between said rearend of said movable jaw and one end of said link proximate said firstpivotal connection, and a fourth pivotal connection between said frontend of said lever and the opposite end of said link proximate saidsecond pivotal connection; and said resilient means include a helicalspring surrounding said link within said mounting connector and havingone end effectively secured to said link and its opposite endeffectively bearing against said mounting connector.
 10. The haircurling device of claim 9 wherein said linkage means include an armhaving a front end attached to said rear end of said movable jaw, a rearend forming said third pivotal connection with said one end of saidlink, and an intermediate portion, an outstanding front trunnionattached to said mounting connector on said one side and forming saidfirst pivotal connection with said intermediate portion of said arm, andan outstanding rear trunnion attached to said mounting connector on saidopposite side and forming said second pivotal connection with saidintermediate portion of said lever.